Named for a Song

We did not name our children after songs.  No matter what anyone says, we just didn't.  However, each one has at least one song with their name in it.  Some we were aware of and some we were not.  Like Amos, for example; we were definitely not trying to keep up the trend when we named him, but a post on Facebook by a friend led us to a song about Amos.  Click on the title, take a listen and get ready to laugh.

Amos Moses
Well Amos Moses was a Cajun,
He lived by himself in the swamp.
He hunted alligators for a livin,
He just knocked 'em in the head with a stump.
The Louisiana law gonna get ya Amos
It ain't legal hunting alligators down in the swamp, boy

Well everybody blames his old man,
For makin' him mean as a snake,
When Amos Moses was a boy
His daddy would use him for alligator bait.
Tie a rope around his neck, and throw him in the swamp,
Alligator bit him in a Louisiana bayou

About 45 minutes southeast of Thibodeaux, Louisiana
Lived a man named Doc Milsap and his pretty wife Hanna
hey raised up a son who could eat up his weight in groceries,
Named him after a man of the cloth,
Called him Amos Moses

Well, the folks around south Louisiana
Said Amos was a hell of a man
He could trap the biggest, the meanest alligator
And just use one hand
That's all he's got left cause an alligator bit him
Left arm gone clean up to the elbow

Well the sheriff caught wind that Amos
Was in the swamp huntin' alligator skins
So he snuck in the swamp, gonna getcha boy,
But he never come out again.
Well, I wonder where the Louisiana sheriff went to?
You can sure get lost in a Louisiana bayou!

About 45 minutes southeast of Thibodeaux, Louisiana
Lived a man named Doc Milsap and his pretty wife Hanna
They raised a son who could eat up his weight in groceries,
Named him after a man of the cloth,
Called him Amos Moses

The Story of Amos

Here is the birth story....

Because of the all the moving we'd been doing and getting ready to do again, we had decided to be induced.  I scheduled the induction for Friday, October 26.  By Wednesday of that week I had been feeling very sick with flu-like symptoms and at night getting the shakes so bad I couldn't lay still enough to relax and fall asleep.  So I called and had the induction moved up a day.

Thursday morning, October 25, Andy and I drove to be at the hospital by 6:45.  Right as we pulled up to the doors I got sick.  I was really nervous that was going to continue throughout labor.  We got checked in and settled into the delivery room.  They wanted to start pitocin right away, but I asked to have my water broken first to see if that would start labor.  Unfortunately the doctor couldn't break the bag, saying it was likely there wasn't much fluid.  The pitocin was started and contractions started coming quickly and within the hour were 3-6 minutes apart.  The only bad part was I was still only dilated to about 4 cm. (Yes, I did get an epidural!)

Andy and I had been discussing the building of our house and there were some things that we needed to do in the next few days and I told Andy that I'd be in labor for a while if he wanted to run and take care of those things right then.  Isn't it funny the way things change from your first child to your third?  I never would have let him leave the hospital during my labor with Georgia!  About 5 minutes after he left the nurse checked me saying I was now dilated to about an 8, but she wanted someone to double check.  The second nurse confirmed that I was dilated to a 7 and so I called Andy and told him not to dilly dally - things were now moving quickly!

Then things got a little ugly.  I started shaking again - violently.  It was so bad I wanted to be restrained.  I couldn't relax my arms, shoulders, chest, neck, or head.  I got sick again and my temperature was around 101.  They packed me with warm blankets and towels, but I wasn't cold.  I was only able to relax when it was absolutely quiet and with Andy holding my hand.  Sadly, it isn't quiet for more than a minute or two in the delivery room with all the ins and outs of the nursing staff. 

Eventually the doctor came in and told me they were having a hard time reading the baby's heart beat and she wanted to put something on his head to keep better track of it.  I really didn't want that.  But then she checked me and said, "Oh no.  It's time to push."  Praise the Lord!  I started pushing at 1:39 pm and the baby was born at 1:53.  His shoulders were very broad and he was stuck for a minute.  It took the doctor with the help of two nurses to wriggle him out!

He was a healthy boy weighing 9 pounds and 6.5 ounces and 21 inches long.  No wonder my back had hurt so bad!  We had come to the hospital with two names picked out and I left it to Andy to decide, but neither one seemed to suit the baby.  We started looking at some names we had discarded in the past and Amos was one of them.  Both of us had temps after labor and Amos' blood sugar was a little low.  He had to have heel pricks done for the first 24 hours (poor baby!) and I was started on antibiotics.  After a couple of days we were both back to normal.

Now we are in the throws of life with three children (whew!) and I'm so thankful for the time Andy is taking off from work.  We are still awaiting the completion of our home and then maybe life will be right again.

 Just born 10/25/12

 

 Proud big sister Georgia

 



Kisses from Lola 10/26/12

 

Amos Andrew 3 weeks old



Happy Halloween

We did the most celebrating in the days before Halloween.  Before the baby came we took the opportunity to carve a pumpkin.  I think he turned out pretty cute.

 

Then, a few days before Halloween, we went trick-r-treating with some friends; followed by our church Pumpkin Party the next night.  Mmmmmm.....candy..........for me..............

 

 

 

The day of was pretty uneventful - I think we ran errands.  But we did put on our Halloween attire and snap a few photos plus capture one really cute video.  You have to watch it twice.  Once to watch Lola and once to listen to Georgia's song.  Lola is sucking the water out of the squirt bottle I use to do their hair, but it looks like she's playing the saxophone.  Georgia's song is one she made up on the way to the hospital to meet Amos and is super sweet.

 

 

 



Little Hands on Me

This pregnancy has brought with it some physical pain.  I know my family is sick of hearing me groan about my hurting back, neck shoulders.  I think that Georgia can sense when I'm feeling discouraged and the other night she asked if she could pray for me.  How could I refuse?  She put both her little hands on me and said, "Dear Jesus, thank you for my mom.  I love her and she is my best friend."  I totally cried.

A few days later I was complaining about my hurting shoulder and Georgia again asked to pray for me.  She put her hands directly on my shoulder and asked Jesus that He would take away the boo-boo on her mommy's shoulder.

And one more time, I was telling her that sometimes when mommies have babies in their tummies it makes it hard to walk or stand up and that I would feel so much better if the baby would be born.  And once again, she put her hands on my belly and said, "Dear Jesus, please help to get this baby out of my mommy."

How does she know to put her hands on me?  I suppose we've done that when she has 'boo-boo.'  What softens my heart the most is that she knows who to ask when she has a need or sees a hurt.  I pray that for the rest of her life she will ask the Lord for help when she needs it and for comfort for those who are hurting.  She's my tender little girl.

Last Week's Home Improvements

More was done on the house this week.  Probably even more would have been done, but the rain was problematic this week and did hold things up a bit.  It's good to have the rain, but we are so anxious to see more progress.

The first picture was taken last Monday, October 15 and the last one was taken on Saturday, October 20th and everything else was in between.  You'll notice the most work was done to the roof and side walls.

Looking out our future front window

 



They finished the other side of the roof today and tomorrow (weather permitting) they'll be putting on the shingles.  The most disheartening news came today when our builder told us that we could go ahead and lock in our interest rates at the bank by the end of the week, meaning we'd definitely be moved in within 60 days.  Well....that puts us at the end of December instead of the 9th!  I really wanted to decorate my new home for Christmas, but will probably only have time for a Christmas tree.  We are praying for better weather, hoping the construction crews can make up some time for us.  In the meantime, I'd sure love to have this baby!  Stay tuned for more pics and updates after this week.

Best Day Ever

Another (super) bright spot in our summer was my sister Ivy's wedding.  She married a stupendous man and my only grudge is that they are so far away living in South Carolina.  It was a beautiful day, a beautiful wedding and seriously the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. 

I had the greatest honor of standing next to Ivy and being able to pray a blessing over her during the ceremony.  Georgia was one of two flower girls and Andy was an usher.  Lola cried in the nursery.

Ivy and Jesse have such a special story.  They met a year ago and spent time talking, but then decided to go their separate ways.  I had decided in January of 2012 to pray for a husband for Ivy and that she would meet him AND marry him THIS YEAR.  I prayed and prayed (specifically for Jesse) and after some time Jesse recontacted Ivy and they began their courtship, engagement, and marriage - all in 2012.  God answered my prayers, and as I've found out, the prayers of many others who were praying for the same thing.  God is good!

Ivy and Jesse are such a blessing to this family.

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/25169941_fZ88TT#!i=2064306665&k=39TGQv6

This link has waaaayyyyy more pictures - including some of Georgia as the flower girl and a short slide show that takes my breath away each time I watch it.  The password is murphy.

We Are AWANA Cubbies...

...we're happy all day long.

We know that Jesus loves us

that's why we sing this song.

We hop because we're happy

and we jump and shout for joy;

for Jesus is a friend to us,

He loves each girl and boy!

 

This year Georgia has started her first year in Cubbies at AWANA, our kids program at church.  Each week she says a verse she has memorized, wears her vest, and has time for games, stories, snack and craft with other 3- and 4-year-olds.  

 

The first few weeks she wasn't really diggin' Cubbies or having to learn a new verse each week.  This really surprised me because she already had a few verses under her belt and loved to share them with anyone who would listen.  However, now she has earned  patches for her vest as a reward for memorizing and working through her book and she tells me, "Mom, I'm gonna say my verse all by myself!"  We are really proud of her ability to recall verses she's learned in weeks past and all the work she is doing.

 

  

A Story for the Bath

Why are pictures of little kids in the bath so cute and sweet?  I captured a happy bath photo and a little video of Georgia 'reading' a story to Lola, who surprisingly happens to be listening pretty intently.  Don't tell me they aren't just the sweetest.

Adventureland

Even though it was an emotionally turbulent summer at times, we still had sparks of fun here and there. A trip to Adventureland with Nana and Papa, aunts, uncles and cousins was a major highlight. We went at the end of August, with most schools already back in session. It was the perfect day of weather, not to mention free parking and free pop all day long. Here are some pics and video from our day.



 

 We're here!



 Airplanes

 

Semis - I totally embarassed myself climbing up there and trying to squeeze into that truck!

 

Bumper cars with Daddy - she loved it right up until the last minute (see video)

 

I was afraid she wouldn't like the tea cups, but she kept saying, "Let go of me, Mom!"

 

Infant Ocean

Totally tuckered out

 

Cute cousins

Train ride with the whole fam

 

It was a wonderful day and we look forward to doing it again next year!

 

The Schumacher House: A Work in Progress

Ok all...I'm getting back on the blogging wagon.  I have been missing it!  Our biggest news is the building of our new home here in Davenport.  It's in a growing community of young families, has a park right across the street and is just a hop, skip and a jump from the library.  We've already met several of the families in our area and are excited that this is where we'll call home.  Here are some pictures of the progress that started back in mid-September.

 Our lot

  

 Being marked out

 

Staked and ready for digging

 

Let the digging begin!

 

Footings poured

 

Foundation in place

 

Water-proofing

 

Plumbing roughed in

 

Dirt filled in and our new neighbor Lily

 

 Basement and garage floor poured

 Framing!

10/12/12 Standing in the future interior foyer

 

Clearly there is still a lot to be done, but now that the house is taking shape, it really will start to look different each day.  We hope to be under roof (and possibly shingles) by the end of next week.  They are still giving us an estimated completion date of the first week in December.



For the Moms

I just got done reading this article for stay-at-home-moms on Tim Challies' website and I'm sitting here at the table crying.  I'm not really sure if I'm crying because of how the article moved me, or if it's pregnancy hormones or maybe the fact that it's only 1:24 pm and I'm already eating my second lunch.  It could be a mixture of all three.  For the sake of this blog post, let's say the article moved me because I really want to share it with you.

When in Rome

Last week we hosted a vacation bible school at our church.  The theme for this year was Rome.  Georgia is still too young to participate, but they do have a small pre-school class and nursery provided for the children of parents who want to volunteer to help with the rest of the program.  Georgia's class of 3 did get to participate in a few activities and almost every night she cried when it was time to go home.  I guess that means it was a success!

I was a Roman who worked in the grammaticus shop, helping kids to make and learn how to use an abacus.  I greatly underestimated the ability of the kids to learn how to use the 'Roman calculator,' but each day I was surprised as they showed me they knew how to use it.

Andy also participated in the dramas each day as the apostle Paul, chained in prison in Rome, complete with his own prison guard.  One of the evenings Georgia's class got to visit the prison and it was in a darkened room with Andy chained by the ankle to a chair.  I guess it scared her and she wanted to know why the 'shoulder' (soldier) was mean to her daddy and if his foot 'got hurted.'

It was a superb week with lots of planning, amazing volunteers and over 90 kids hearing the gospel.  Praise the Lord!